Acne And Hair Loss, and what you can do about it

Did you know that there is a relationship between acne and hair loss? It can stem from scalp problems like excess dandruff.

The medical term for dandruff is pityriasis and is most evident from large flakes of dead skin cells that can be found on your scalp, in your hair, and on dark clothing.

Dandruff is not the same as having a dry scalp. Granted a dry scalp also has flakes of skin cells but they aren’t as large or as greasy as dandruff flakes. Dandruff flakes are often oily and are more closely related to acne as the condition is often accompanied by redness and irritation of the scalp. If you have dandruff you will probably find that your scalp is particularly itchy and has a nasty odor.

Dandruff is contagious and needs to be treated properly so it doesn’t get worse and/or infect others. Left untreated dandruff can lead to scalp acne which in turn can lead to hair loss. Nobody wants acne and hair loss problems if they can avoid it. Therefore it is important not to share hair utensils such as combs or brushes without properly disinfecting between uses.

Furthermore, it is important that your hair be thoroughly rinsed of shampoo and conditioning products. A buildup of product in your hair will only make your dandruff worse. You are best to treat your hair with over-the-counter medicated shampoos and conditioners and use an antiseptic lotion directly on your scalp.

If your dandruff is severe you may have excessive redness, itchiness, bleeding, or oozing of sebum as the result of scratching. If this is the case, you will want to consult your doctor. Sebum is the oily substance produced by sebaceous glands. are often the site of acne lesions. Your sebaceous glands are attached to your hair follicles on your scalp as well as on other parts of your body.

If you have scalp acne you would treat it the same way you would treat acne on other parts of your body. For instance you may want to use a skin cleanser that contains salicylic acid. Use a cotton ball and only apply on the areas of your scalp that really need to be treated.

The problem with applying an acne treatment to your scalp is that it will also dry out your hair which can in turn cause more serious infection and possibly hair loss. So you can understand now how acne and hair loss can be connected. You best bet is to apply your skin cleanser and then thoroughly rinse your scalp.

Please note that is unwise to use acne products containing benzoyl peroxide or other peroxide ingredients on your scalp due to the fact they can alter your hair color. This is even more important if you have color-treated hair since your hair will be more porous than if it were untreated.